'Vicious' tale of UK's longest serving prisoner and grim future after release

'Vicious' tale of UK's longest serving prisoner and grim future after release Britain's longest serving female inmate is set to be released after her tenth attempt at freedom - after stabbing her husbands new lover in the 80s in a jealous rage Worried that she was about to lose her home and custody of her child - bigamist Maria Pearson stabbed her husband's new partner to death in a jealousy-fuelled rage. Pearson was 31 when she brutally killed 23-year-old Janet Newton in 1986. She was jailed for life after the judge called it a "cruel and vicious" murder. Now after 39 years behind bars and becoming "Britain's forgotten inmate", the killer is set to walk free. Initially ordered to serve a minimum of 12 years before being considered for parole, Pearson, from Hartlepool stayed in prison for an extra 27 years over concerns about her behaviour and the risk she posed to the public. At the time of the murder, Pearson's life was already volatile. She had two children from two previous complicated relationships and gave birth to her third child just days before her bigamous wedding to Malcolm Pearson. Discovering that she was still married to her first husband, Sam Travers, Malcolm demanded an annulment after just one month and started a relationship with Janet. Pearson started stalking the 23-year-old and her family, including sending hate letters to Janet’s mother. In October 1986, two days after Janet became engaged to Malcolm, jealous Pearson stabbed Janet 17 times in the chest as she left her house. The knife penetrated Ms Newton's heart and she was left lying in a pool of blood, Teesside Crown Court later heard. At trial, she attempted to blame her husband, but was found to have been 'obsessive and jealous'. In the intervening years, Pearson's was denied parole nine times. She spent two stretches in an open prison before being returned to a higher security jail over issues with her behaviour. This decision to block her release was welcomed by Janet's family, including her sister Lynn, who previously told the Mirror: "Every time she applies for parole I have had to write the victim impact letter on why she should not be released. When my sister died, I had nightmares for months afterwards - I’d wake up screaming. The nightmares and the sense of dread have begun again. "All I can do is wait and pray the worst does not happen. I lost my soulmate that day, and I can never forgive her killer - not just what she has put us through by taking Janet’s life but for the years since but how she's shown no remorse for what she did. She's pure evil." Now aged 70, the parole board has approved Pearson's tenth application, concluding that she no longer poses a significant risk to society. It said: "The panel was satisfied that imprisonment was no longer necessary for the protection of the public and that she poses no more than a minimal risk of further serious offending." After the hearing on Tuesday, the board described it as a "finely balanced" decision and said Pearson would be released on licence under strict conditions, including living at a designated address. The pensioner will be forced to comply with a curfew enforced by electronic tagging for a year and to avoid contact with Janet Newton's family. Pearson had made "mixed progress" in prison, engaging with psychotherapy and completing a thinking skills programme, while also presenting "ongoing challenges" in her relationships with professionals. Some experts assessed her as posing a high risk of serious harm, others concluded her risk could be managed safely in the community. The summary added: "The panel accepted that Ms Pearson presents a risk of harm, particularly in situations where she feels distressed, challenged or under pressure. However, it concluded that the risk of serious violent reoffending is low, noting the absence of comparable behaviour over many years in custody and the specific circumstances of the original offence." Her prison offender manager, lead clinical psychologist and the operational manager of the enhanced offender management service - all of whom had worked closely with Pearson for several years supported her release. Once released, she will have to adapt to a world that has changed beyond recognition since her incarceration, and learn how to navigate new technology. Who her friends will be remains to be seen. She will be on license with strict surveillance. This means if she commits even a minor rule she could be recalled back to prison without a new trial.